1
Ederson proves his worth to Metropolis
After Ederson made a number of important saves to disclaim Fulham – and notably Adama Traoré – Pep Guardiola revealed that summer season curiosity from Saudi golf equipment for the Manchester Metropolis No 1 was by no means firmed up. “He knew from day one I didn’t need it, we didn’t need it,” mentioned the Metropolis supervisor. “However the supply didn’t come – the actual supply. As a result of they [Al-Nassr] made a suggestion, however for the keeper, for the crew who gained 4 Premier Leagues in a row, he has a price, a worth. In any other case, he can not depart.” Guardiola praised the Brazilian for regaining his focus after the uncertainty. “Ederson is so sturdy: in a single second, he says: ‘OK, I’m right here, I’m going to do my finest.’” Guardiola additionally believes the presence of Stefan Ortega has pushed his first-choice keeper. “Generally Ederson has to have the sensation that he has to carry out properly, in any other case Stefan can play. And this wholesome competitors, as a result of they respect [each other] and have an unimaginable relationship, makes our crew higher.” Jamie Jackson
2
United must click on rapidly
The interminable debate, after all, revolves round the way forward for Erik ten Hag. Manchester United’s stalemate at Aston Villa was symptomatic of his reign, a end result constructed totally on moments, near-misses each for and in opposition to. Bruno Fernandes cracked a free-kick in opposition to the bar, Diogo Dalot turned his again and prevented Jaden Philogene from scoring what would most likely have been a stoppage-time winner, and absolutely the tip for Ten Hag. Afterwards the Dutchman clung to gentle positives however mediocrity can not wash for much longer. The sight of big-money signings limbering up on the sidelines at Villa Park served to ram residence the monetary misspend. The pre-match focus centred on Jonny Evans, who turns 37 in January, protecting Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez out of the crew however United’s largest considerations lie in assault, having scored 5 targets in seven matches. Joshua Zirkzee, who changed Rasmus Højlund halfway by means of the second half, received a kind of however the early proof is the £36.5m purchase from Bologna is one other poor signing. “We belief the gamers and sooner or later it’ll click on,” Ten Hag mentioned. United can not wait for much longer. Ben Fisher
3
Saints have hope earlier than crunch video games
Southampton could have ended up dropping each matches by the identical scoreline however there was little doubt Russell Martin was a lot happier along with his aspect’s efficiency in opposition to Arsenal on Saturday than he had been 5 days earlier in opposition to Bournemouth. Cameron Archer briefly provided hope they may conjure a shock first league win of the season on the Emirates earlier than the Southampton defence was ultimately overwhelmed. However with residence fixtures in opposition to Leicester and Everton and away journeys to Manchester Metropolis and Wolves to come back after the worldwide break, Martin acknowledged it was in opposition to the groups round them within the desk that Southampton should enhance. “The video games that outline us are developing,” he mentioned. “We now have three of them within the subsequent block of 4 video games. We now have to do higher in these video games.” Ed Aarons
4
Suspensions unlikely to harm Chelsea
Enzo Maresca’s blase response to 2 Chelsea gamers turning into the primary within the Premier League to succeed in 5 bookings reveals that disciplinary legal guidelines will at all times damage the small golf equipment more durable than the massive ones. Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella will miss the journey to face Liverpool on 20 October after getting yellow playing cards in all bar two of the membership’s first seven video games. However while you’ve had a £220m funding on gamers and might afford to alter your total crew after a tiring Convention League recreation, that type of a sanction doesn’t appear to hit as exhausting as it would. Maresca, after praising his gamers for his or her crew spirit after they joined a 20-man brawl with Forest at Stamford Bridge, was relaxed about travelling to Anfield with out two key males. “We now have a global break to arrange and we are going to simply use gamers who weren’t within the first XI,” he mentioned. Matthew Dunn
5
Welbeck embodies sage Seagulls
4 years in the past this month, the out-of-contract Danny Welbeck was signed to fill out a Brighton squad brief on forwards. He reaches 34 subsequent month and final performed for England in 2018, however stays a participant who has by no means let down managers starting from Sir Alex Ferguson to Fabian Hürzeler, who is 2 years youthful than him. Welbeck was by no means a pure marksman, however the intelligence of his working and link-up play made Arsène Wenger and Roy Hodgson confirmed admirers. Brighton now profit from his expertise and continued adeptness in stretching play, including coherence to their zippy ahead line. He led the second-half revival that sank Spurs, scoring the winner. Hürzeler is a younger supervisor however he seems to not worry having senior, older professionals round. Welbeck revealed that the non-playing veterans Jason Steele and James Milner had reminded their colleagues at half-time of the necessity to take the battle again to Tottenham. Welbeck then embodied that battle. John Brewin
6
Pickford silences the boo-boys once more
There have been apparent targets for each sections of the group at Goodison Park, however whereas Anthony Gordon struggled in entrance of purpose in opposition to his former membership, Jordan Pickford thrived amid the standard Newcastle hostilities. There was a time when the Sunderland-born keeper would have risen to the bait however, as he mentioned after Everton’s first Premier League clear sheet of the season: “I simply crack on with my recreation. I realized from the previous, I keep targeted and I need to do my finest for the badge. They can provide me stick, I’m solely up the highway from them.” Pickford’s penalty save from Gordon could have been the standout second however there was a noticeable enchancment within the Everton goalkeeper’s command of his space as compared with current performances. In a defence once more disrupted by accidents – by which the stand-ins James Garner and Michael Keane flourished – Pickford’s sense of duty proved infectious. Andy Hunter
7
Slot’s machine making the appropriate noises
The putting factor about Liverpool underneath Arne Slot is there have already been enhancements made to varied departments. Too usually underneath Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool would concede targets that took effort and time to get better from. Virgil van Dijk seems to be near his finest once more and is now not left so uncovered, with Ibrahima Konaté getting a long term beside him. Ryan Gravenberch seems to be like a stroller and pinpoint passer within the mould of John Barnes and Jan Molby, however with a contemporary physique suited to the urgent recreation. “He’s tall, and he’s sturdy in duels,” famous Slot. Cody Gakpo equipped Diogo Jota’s purpose and is way extra snug on the flanks than a central function. The downsides? Within the more durable assessments to come back, the tempo could need to elevate; Chelsea, Arsenal and Metropolis are unlikely to grant Slot’s gamers a lot time. And if Mohamed Salah has continued to attain targets, his individualism – and wastefulness – can jar compared along with his teammates’ embracing of the system. JB
8
Hammers hit their attacking stride
Earlier than Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Ipswich, the purpose output from West Ham’s beginning entrance 4 of their opening six Premier League video games was one Jarrod Bowen strike and a Lucas Paquetá penalty. Not fairly the considerable yield anticipated underneath the brand new supervisor, Julen Lopetegui – however, aided by some woefully gentle Ipswich defending, Saturday offered the primary glimpse of the entertaining, expansive type the followers crave after the usually tedious David Moyes period. The hosts’ 13 pictures on track have been their most in a Premier League recreation within the 19 years since data started, and all 4 attacking gamers – Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus, Bowen and Paquetá – scored. With Niclas Füllkrug battling damage and Crysencio Summerville but to battle his approach into the reckoning since his summer season transfer, it falls to a well-known quartet to ship targets. They managed it in opposition to a aspect who will do properly to remain up on this proof; the Hammers’ subsequent two video games, in opposition to Tottenham and Manchester United, will present a more durable take a look at. Ben Bloom
9
Cooper retains it low-key after first win
After Steve Cooper recorded his first league win of the season, there was no grandstanding however moderately, collectively along with his Leicester gamers, a low-key lap of appreciation for the help of these within the stands. It isn’t even a fortnight since some followers directed their anger at Cooper after his aspect squeezed previous Walsall in a Carabao Cup penalty shootout. Whereas Cooper was accountable for Nottingham Forest, the sight of him punching the air after wins turned commonplace. Victory in opposition to Bournemouth means Leicester enter the worldwide break with the monkey off their again however Cooper is aware of extra is required. “I’ve received to construct belief right here,” the Welshman mentioned. “It’s clear I’ve received work to do by way of individuals actually believing in me. That’s my actual huge motivation as a result of it permits me to indicate how a lot I need to get this job proper with this set of gamers who’re so dedicated. I’ve received loads of work to do right here to actually be the crew we wish, actually be related, and to grow to be a pressure.” BF
10
Time ticking for O’Neil at Molineux?
If Wolves failed the weekly take a look at of Brentford’s onslaught from the kick-off, conceding after 76 seconds, it received far, far worse after that. Their ache was largely self-inflicted, Mario Lemina ill-disciplined in fouling Nathan Collins for the penalty that put Brentford 2-1 up, whereas the defending that adopted was hopeless. The rumbles of discontent that started when Wolves beat solely Luton of their remaining 10 Premier League matches of final season turned howls of rebellion in opposition to Gary O’Neil as Brentford ran riot. “You don’t know what you’re doing,” chanted followers within the away finish. “Loopy, loopy targets we gave away,” mentioned the Wolves manger, echoing his phrases in August when Chelsea gained 6-2 at Molineux. Underlying numbers and flashes of the residual expertise inside O’Neil’s squad appear unlikely to avoid wasting him. No clear sheet within the league since February – in opposition to Sheffield United – is a stark statistic. “No concept,” mentioned O’Neil on his future. “In some unspecified time in the future, somebody will inform me to cease and I’ll cease.” JB
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